The ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay is a rare neurodevelopmental condition associated with structural retinal abnormalities. Mouse models cannot help to clarify this feature.  This project will investigate retinal defects driven by the loss of SACS using...

Patients with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) encounter symptoms that affect their walking ability. Among these, they show abnormal tensing of the muscles (spasticity), which partly derives from the disruption of a bundle of fibers...

It is well established in neurodegenerative diseases that early therapeutic intervention - ideally before neurodegenerative cascades begin to breakdown neuronal function - is key to the success of disease-modifying therapies. Yet we do not understand the early...

We discovered that sacsin specifically localizes at the post-synaptic density of the cerebellum, where it controls key proteins involved in synapse organization and trans-synaptic signaling, required for tuning the firing properties of Purkinje cells. The project aims...

The SACS protein, whose mutation results in ARSACS, is among the largest proteins in human cells (4579 residues), which hindered the determination of its structure and made basic biochemical experiments problematic. In the proposed project, we aim to use novel tagging...

The Strack team at the University of Iowa plans to continue with preclinical studies to prevent or reverse ARSACS symptoms in the SACS knock-out mouse model. Specifically, they are hoping to improve mitochondrial function via gene therapy and electromagnetic fields....

  L’ataxie récessive spastique de Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) est une maladie incurable caractérisée par plusieurs déficiences motrices progressives apparaissant dès l’enfance. Bien que les atteintes soient majeures, entraînant de grandes difficultés à marcher...

This is the continuation of the project. More specific details to come.   As an indication of the research, following is the description of last year work.  Currently we are looking carefully at sacsin’s interaction with cytoskeletal proteins and...

  The overall aim of this research is to identify the potential co-occurrence of genomic variants beyond mutations in the SACS gene and the epigenetic effects that might explain the different phenotype severity existing among ARSACS patients. Grant: $52,000 Duration :...

ARSACS is characterised by the lack of sacsin expression and the formation of intermediate filaments bundles in neurons and fibroblasts derived from skin biopsies. Our strategy over the last years has been aimed at developing a replacement therapy, by peptide and/or...

One of the hallmark features of ARSACS is dysfunction and eventual death of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, which contributes to ataxia. Strikingly, not all Purkinje cells become ill and die: rather, there are specific patterns of vulnerability and resilience to...